Pit bulls are misunderstood

Friday

Oct 17, 2008 at 10:52 AMOct 17, 2008 at 10:53 AM

This is in response to Errol J. LeBlanc’s letter “Pit bulls are dangerous dogs.”The media tends to focus on pit bull attacks, while dismissing attacks from other dogs.Do you ever hear about vicious Pomeranians?Well, eight years ago, one killed a six-week-old baby in Los Angeles. The sheriff’s deputy describing the attack said that it was “not something that happens with that breed.”Yet, if a pit bull had killed that baby, people would have been quick to condemn all pit bulls as “monsters.”Pit bulls are widely kept as family pets.In the past, they served in the military.Today they excel in agility, obedience, search and rescue, therapy, and drug and bomb detection.These are some of the most misunderstood dogs, and I feel compelled to defend them because I have met great representations of this breed and I know that the term “vicious” does not apply to them.No, the pit bull is not the right dog for everyone, but few breeds are. Like all dogs, pit bulls require patience, exercise, training, socialization and a responsible owner.The Pomeranian I mentioned had been left alone with the baby.No dog should ever be left alone with a child.I firmly believe that any dog can be dangerous in the wrong hands.If a dog displays unwarranted aggression toward a person, it should be humanely euthanized because keeping it alive is a disservice to the dog and to other people.In all my life, I have never met a mean pit bull, Doberman, Rottweiler, chow or any other dog that people typically consider “vicious.”I have met aggressive Chihuahuas, poodles, Maltese and Yorkies.On the other hand, I have also met wonderful examples of those breeds.Like people, dogs should be judged as individuals and not stereotyped.Bridget MireThibodaux

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